Rotary intaglio perfecting press



Feb. 14, 1967 s. GIORI 3,303,779

ROTARY INTAGLIO PERFECTING PRESS Filed Nov. 19, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Feb. 14, 1967 G. GlORl 3,363,779

ROTARY INTAGLIO PERFECTING PRESS Filed Nov. 19, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet zFeb, 14, 1967 G. GiORH 3,33,779

ROTARY INTAGLIO PERFECTING PRESS Filed Nov. 19, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3United States Patent 3,3e3,779 ROTARY lNTAGLlO PERFECTlNG PRESSGualtiero Giori, 4 Rue de la Pain, Lausanne, Switzerland Filed Nov. 19,1964, Ser. No. 412,352 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 4,1964, G 39,7ti8 1 flaint. (Cl. 101-152) In all prior intaglio printingmethods, the paper or the like suitable material to be printed isconventionally urged in the form of webs or sheets through the agency ofa so-called pressure cylinder provided with an outer elastic surfaceagainst the corresponding rigid inked printing plate or engravedcylinder, while the ink carried in the grooves of the printing plate orof the engraved cylinder, is removed and transferred onto the materialto be printed. The required value of the compression is selected inaccordance with the depth of the engraved grooves and consequently withthe amount of ink to be transferred out of said grooves and this, in itsturn, defines the fineness of the printed picture.

The intaglio printing procedure allows executing very intricate picturesand letter press in one or more colours, which pictures and letter pressmay be accurately reproduced in the successive prints. Since howeverthis procedure forms the most expensive, the most difiicult and also theslowest of all known printing methods, it is used generally only for theexecution of prints of a very high grade, preferably of securities andbanknotes, which must satisfy very strict requirements, principally as aguarantee against forgery.

Since the paper used for securities and banknotes must be very resistantand firm and therefore has a comparatively hard upper surface, it isnecessary to urge the paper under a high pressure during its printingagainst the printing plate or the engraved cylinder so that a perfecttransfer of ink out of the engraved grooves may be obtained. For thisreason, it is necessary for the pressure cylinder rolling over theprinting plate or the engraved cylinder to be urged under an adjustablepressure against said printing plate or engraved cylinder. Said pressurecylinder is provided on its outer cylindrical surface, as alreadyproposed, with a yielding material such as cardboard, rubberized canvas,cork, felt or any other suitable material, which is urged with a more orless intense elastic deformation against the paper running between thepressure cylinder and the printing plate or engraved cylinder.

The pressure cylinders used hitherto exclusively for obtaining thenecessary printing pressure leads to the necessity of printing at a timeonly one side of the paper during its passage through the printingpress. If, as in the case of securities and banknotes, it is necessaryto print both sides of the sheet or web of paper, the second printinghas to be executed, after the drying of the ink on the first printedside and the necessary turning round of the paper, during a secondpassage of the paper through the press. This increases the time requiredfor the execution of a carrier material printed on both sides throughintaglio printing and therefore the actual procedure becomes still moreexpensive when applied to both sides of the paper.

Our present invention has now for its object to remove this drawback ofthe intaglio printing procedures as known hitherto and it covers amethod which allows printing simultaneously both sides of a sheet or webof paper of any suitable material, whether in one or in more colours.

In order to solve this problem, the method according to my inventionconsists in the use of two cylinders having parallel axes and facingeach other, said cylinders being provided each with at least one sectorcarrying a printing plate or with an engraved sheath and being urgedagainst each other under an adjustable pressure, while the material tobe printed is fed between the cylinders for the simultaneous impressionof both its sides in a compressed condition.

When the paper to be printed has, by reason of its actual composition, asufficient elasticity, this elasticity is sufiicient for the obtention,during the printing procedure, of the required elastic pressure, betweenthe outer surface of the paper and the rigid printing plate or rigidcylinder sheath, whereas such a pressure was hitherto considered onlyobtainable in the printing of one side by means of a pressure cylinderhaving an elastic outer surface.

However, if the paper or material to be printed is hard or very thin andconsequently, its elasticity is not suflicient, my improved method isexecuted in an arrangement wherein at least one of the two cylinders,having parallel axes and facing each other, is provided with elasticmeans which ensure an elasticity for the printing plate or engravedsheath with reference to the printing plate or engraved sheath of theother cylinder.

This elasticity may be obtained for instance by providing the printingplate or engraved sheath on one at least of the two cylinders withelastic means with reference to the cylinder axis.

To this end, it is of advantage to insert under said printing plate orengraved cylinder a layer of an elasti cally yielding material which maybe constituted say by felt, rubber, cardboard, cork or any syntheticmaterial showing elastic properties.

In the case of cylinders provided with an engraved sheath, it ispossible to ensure the desired elasticity by securing at least one ofthe two cylinders on its carrier spindle by means of radially actingsprings.

Lastly, we may according to a further feature of the invention, set atleast one of the cylinder-carrying spindles which is in any case adaptedto move perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the spindle so as toadjust the pressure applied and must therefore be subjected to acorresponding pressure, under the action of an elastic stress wherebythe cylinder considered and its spindle are elastically fitted withreference to the other cylinder.

These different improvements are such that the part played by thepressure cylinder used hitherto for intaglio printing on a single sideis now played by at least one cylinder carrying the printing plates orengraved sheath with a view to obtaining a perfect elastic compression.Since the compression exerted on the paper is obviously distributed onboth sides of the paper, the conditions for a simultaneous printing ofboth sides of the paper are thus satisfied.

The following disclosure will allow a better understanding of the meansfor the execution of the invention, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view from above showing the terminal surfacesof two cylinders carrying the printing plates, all other well knownarrangements providing for intaglio printing being removed,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section through two cylinders providedeach with an engraved sheath,

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a rotary press adapted to print with asingle colour both sides of the sheets in association with wipingcylinders,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a press similar to that illustrated inFIG. 3, incorporating conventional endless wiping webs for wiping theink off the outer surface of the printing plates or of the engravedsheath.

Turning to FIG. 1, the two cylinders 1 and 2 the axes of which areparallel face each other and are adapted to revolve round their axes,respectively shown at 7 and 8. Each of the cylinders 1 and 2 issubdivided into four peripheral sectors carrying the printing plates,respectively 3 and 4. The two cylinders rotate at the same peripheralspeed in the direction of the arrows, that is in opposite directions, sothat the peripheral surfaces of the cylinders move in their contactingarea in the same direction. Between the cylinders, the material,generally paper, to be printed on both sides and which is notillustrated, is introduced as a sheet or a web.

In order to obtain a sufficient compression of the paper to be printed,the two cylinders are urged against each other with an adjustablepressure, by means known per se as shown on FIGURE 3, such means can forexample consist of cylinder 121 to whose piston 122 is mounted thespindle of one of the rotating cylinders. Such a cylinder can behydraulic and can have fluid inlet and outlet 123, 124.

Now, if the actual elastic yieldingness of the paper is not sufiicientfor the obtention of a good elastic pressure, this necessary elasticityis obtained in the example illustrated in FIG. 1 by laying, according tothe invention, the printing plates 3 and 4 on a layer of elasticmaterial 5 and/or 6. This carrier layer, which may be given for instancea thickness ranging between 1 and 5 mm., according to the pressurerequired, is constituted for instance by felt, cork, rubber orcardboard; such a layer allows laying the rigid printing plates in asuitable elastic manner on the cylinder.

According to a modification which is not illustrated, only one of thetwo cylinders 1 and 2 is provided with an elastic layer and obviously,in this case also, the pressure is distributed equally over both sidesof the paper.

In order to prevent the compression from being applied too harshly atthe moment at which two sectorshaped printing plates 3 and 4 carried bythe corresponding cylinders engage each other, the leading edges 3a and4a of the printing plates on both cylinders are correspondinglybevelled. By reason of the presence of this inwardly directed slope,which slope may advantageously be incurved and merge gradually into theperiphery of the plate provided with engraved grooves, there is obtaineda smooth application of the pressure upon engagement between thecooperating printing plates and the paper to be printed. A similararrangement may also be incorporated with the trailing edges 3a and 4bof the printing plates so that a sudden outing out of the pressureexerted on the output ends of the printing plates may be avoided.

FIG. 2 illustrates diagrammatically two cylinders and 11 adapted torotate round the corresponding axes 12 and 13. In order to obtain anelastic compression, the rigid cylindrical shell is suspended radiallyround the cylinder-carrying spindle through radially acting springs 16and 17. This leads to the possibility of shifting radially and outwardlythe cylindrical shell of either cylinder as a unit with reference to itsspindle 12 or 13, to an extent depending on the elasticity of thespring, in a direction facing away from the cooperating cylinder.

Thus, while the two cylinders show permanently in the case illustratedin FIG. 2 a constant diameter d, the spacing 11 between the cylindershell in the contacting area with the other cylinder and the cylinderspindle is always slightly shorter than the distance 12 between thediametrically opposed peripheral area of the same cylinder shell and thecooperating cylinder spindle. The spacing between the spindles "12 and13 of the two cylinders is thus somewhat smaller than the sum of theradii of the cylinders considered in their free condition. Consequently,whatever may be the position of a cylinder, the springs 16 or 17operating radially on the cylinder shell in a direction facing the othercylinder are subjected to compression, while the springs facing awayfrom said other cylinder are subjected to a corresponding expansion.

According to a modification which is not illustrated, it is alsopossible to set the engraved shell of the cylinders 10 and 11 over anelastic layer distributed over the inner periphery of the outer shallforming the engraved sheath in a manner such that the rigid cylindershell may be elastically shiftable on said layer with reference to thecylinder spindle.

FIG. 3 illustrates diagrammatically a rotary printing press designed inaccordance with the invention so as to allow the simultaneous printingon both sides of a sheet of paper with a single colour intaglioimpression. The cylinders 1 and 2 are constituted in this case byplatecarryiru cylinders provided with four sector-shaped engravedprinting plates 3 and 4 in a manner similar to those illustrated in FIG.1, with the interposition, if required, of an elastic layer which is notillustrated.

From a conventional stack 21 carrying the sheets, the paper to beprinted on both sides is fed over the feeding table 22 and is taken holdof by the oscillating gripping member 23 so as to be laid over the lowerplate-carrying cylinder 3 and to be guided between the latter and theupper plate-carrying cylinder 2. The printing plates 3 and 4 on the twocylinders are subjected in a conventional manner to the well-knownwiping operation after they have been inked by the inking means 27.

The wiping system cooperating in the case illustrated with the wipingcylinders 28 and 29 is designed so that unengraved upper surface areasof the plates are perfectly freed of any superfluous ink, while the inkis still more energetically urged into the engraved grooves so as to cutout any undesired splashing effect upon engagement of paper sectionsinside said engraved grooves.

The preliminary wiping system 23 is advantageously provided with anink-recovering system which allows recovering the valuable printing ink.

The sheets printed on both sides are fed off the periphery of the lowerplate-carrying cylinder 1 over the outlet chain system gripping thepaper sheets and leading them onto the output table 2-5.

Instead of the one-colour printing illustrated, it is obviously possibleto provide one or both sides of the sheets with a multicolour printing.In particular, it is possible to execute simultaneously a multi-colourprinting on one side and a single colour printing on the other side ofthe sheet.

The arrangement illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 4 for the executionof our improved printing procedure incorporates again two cylinders 39and 31 which may be constituted by plate-carrying cylinders providedwith sector-shaped printing plates as already illustrated in the case ofFIG. 3, or else, it is possible to resort to cylinders carrying anengraved sheath. The web or sheet of paper to be printed reaches asprecedingly, over an inlet table 32 and an oscillating gripping system33, the periphery of the lower cylinder 39 and it is then urged under asuit-able compression into the gap between the two cylinders so that thesimultaneous printing of both sides may be executed, the paper beingfinally conveyed by an output chain system 34 adapted to take hold ofthe paper so as to feed it onto an output table which is notillustrated.

In contradistinction with the wiping system cooperating with thecylinders as illustrated in FIG. 3, the wiping is executed in the caseof FIG. 4 by the usual endless web of paper, fabric or the like suitablewiping material. These endless wiping webs are wound off feed rollers,over wiping bars 36a, 36b and 360 which urge them against the outerplate surface to be cleaned, after which said webs are wound on take-uprollers. These feed and take up rollers are designated generally by thereference number 36. The inking of the printing plates or of theengraved sheaths on the cylinders is again provided by inking systems35.

in both embodiments illustrated in H65. 3 and 4, and with a view toincreasing, as required by the case considered, the elastic pressureexerted by reason of the more or less elastic yieldingness of the paper,it is possible to resort to any of the inventive steps already disclosedwith reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the case of a plate-carrying cylinderand of a cylinder carrying an engraved sheath. Furthermore, theinvention provides for at least one cylinder spindle, which is shiftableperpendicularly to its longitudinal direction, so as to allow adjustmentof the pressure exerted on it and must be subjected to the necessarypressure, to be stressed by an elastic force so that the unit includingthe cylinder and its spindle may be urged elastically against the othercylinder.

The method according to the invention allows for the first time thesimultaneous one-colour or multi-colour intaglio printing on both sidesof the material to be printed, which leads to a cheaper execution ofexpensive intaglio prints and also to a substantial saving of time incomparison with the double passage of the paper through the printingpress as required hitherto.

What I claim is:

Device for producing sheets and web printed on both sides by single ormulti-colour intaglio printing comprising (A) a pair of coactingoppositely rotating cylinders facing each other at their peripheries andeach carrying similarly dimensioned rigid I intaglio printing plates,

(13) means for inking and wiping the surface of said intaglio plates oneach of said cylinders,

(C) means for guiding the material to be printed between said cylindersat their coacting area to thus simultaneously print both sides of saidmaterial,

(D) spindles carrying said cylinders, at least one of said spindleshaving means for moving perpendicularly to the longitudinal axi thereoffor adjusting the pressure between said plates and thereby guiding thematerial to be printed under pressure between said plates,

(E) at least one of said cylinders having an elastically yieldingsurface for supporting the said intaglio plates carried thereby,

(F) each of said rigid plates being sector-shaped and having bevelledleading and trailing edges,

(G) said plates on said coacting cylinders being oriented so that atleast said bevelled leading edges of said cylinders coact to form aninwardly directed slope therebetween so that upon engagement between twooooperating printing plates carried by the two cylinders a gradual risein pressure is obtained and similarly a gradual release of said pressureis ensured at the end of said engagement between said plates.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,970,809 8/1934Marguardt 101156 2,085,323 6/1937 Leash 101376 2,234,726 3/1941 Frazier10l220 2,310,788 2/1943 Hummelchen 101350 2,333,172 11/1943 Grupe101-157 2,585,617 2/1952 Battey 101156 2,659,305 11/1953 Giori 101423 X2,987,993 6/1961 Giori 101-155 3,030,883 4/1962 Shacklett 101-1563,136,672 6/1964 Prongay 10140.1 X 3,161,127 12/1964 Lime 101-153FOREIGN PATENTS 542,586 1/1932 Germany.

18,055 12/1915 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Hackleman, C. W., Commercial Engravings and Printing,Commercial Engraving Publication Company, Indiana, page 550, lines 912.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

I. R. FISHER, Assistant Examiner.

